Bag



Sept. 29, 1936. J. H. GORDON BAG 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. ll, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet Sept. 29, 1936. L H, GORDON BAG Filed Jan. 11, 1952INVEN-roR Jb/*711 60774071.

BY p yv'mu' f /L ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAG John H. Gordon,Birmingham, Mich.

Application January 11, 1932, Serial No. 585,920

Claims. (Cl. 20G-12) The invention relates to equipment bags and it hasparticular relation to a bag which is essentially adapted for use byphysicians for carrying medicinal supplies, surgical instruments, andother articles ordinarily carried by them in making professional calls.

Cognizance is taken of numerous bags that have been used by physiciansfor many years for carrying articles. used in their profession. Insofaras known, however, the bags that ordinarily have been used have not hadsatisfactory facilities for accommodating the numerous and variedarticles which must be taken along on professional calls, and in atleast most instances, such articles are haphazardly deposited in arather ordinary type of bag. Moreover, in the bags that have been used,little attention has been given to locating and maintaining the variousarticles in a satisfactory and convenient arrangement which would allowthe physician to quickly select one or more articles to be utilized. Inmost cases such articles have been deposited in a bag suiiiciently largeto accommodate them, and then when the physician desired to remove someparticular article, it was necessary to reach into the bag and move thecontents thereof around and separate them until the desired article wasfound. A bag which is so arranged that the articles are maintained in adefinite and convenient order, and which is so constructed that uponopening the bag the various articles are immediately placed in readilyaccessible locations, manifestly is quite advantageous from thephysicians point of view. Moreover, a bag of this character preventsbreakage and other damage which occasionally results from lack of orderand arrangement of articles in the ordinary type of bag.

In addition to the above, it is quite important that the physiciansequipment be divided up in a manner more or less corresponding to thedifferent types of cases involved in his profession. For example, invisiting one patient, certain types of surgical or other instruments maybe used, in the case of another patient, medicine will only be used, andin another case hypodermic injections may be called for. Having a bagwhich is designed so to separate the physicians equipment that he mayhave ready access to and be able to locate immediately the particulararticles he desires to use, seemingly is of considerable importance tothe practicing physician.

It is one object of the invention to provide a physicians bag which isso constructed and arranged that various articles constituting hisequipment, will be located` conveniently in the bag, be separated so asto permit the physician to immediately obtain the article or articlesWanted, and so arranged that breakage or damage of any part of theequipment will practically be eliminated. 5

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag of the abovedesignated character, which can readily be opened to so place thevarious articles comprising the equipment in the bag, in readilyaccessible locations that the physician in making his professional call,may immediately nd the article or articles wanted without inspecting orhunting through the bag.

Another object of the invention is to provide a physicians bag which isextremely durable, which is substantially tight for the purpose ofpreventing ingress of water, and which has a strongly professionalappearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a neat and compact bagwhich may be opened to a Wide degree, for the purpose of laying, so tospeak, the entire equipment of the bag before the physician. Manifestly,it is quite convenient to the physician to have a bag which when opened,practically lays out the entire equipment therein before him so as toenable him to practically see at a glance, everything in the bag so asto enable him to quickly select the articles Wanted.

And in general it is an object of the invention to provide a bag whichwill increase the emciency of the physicians service, conserve his time,avoid mental aggravation resulting from inability to quickly find thearticles wanted in the bag, or to deposit such articles in a convenientar- V rangement, and which will insure maintenance of the articles inthe bag in good ycondition at all times.

For an understanding of a particular form of the invention, referencemay be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thespecification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View illustrating a bag constructed according toone form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale, taken substantiallyalong the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail view in cross section, particu- 50 larly illustratingthe manner in which the side compartments of the bag are hinged to thebottom compartment thereof;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken Substantiauy along theune 5 5 of Fig. 2, par- 5 -tom compartment IU.

ticularly illustrating the manner in which certain articles comprisingthe physicians equipment, are arranged in one half of the bag;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 6 6of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale, taken substantiallyalong the line 'L -'I of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional View on a larger scale, illustratingparticularly the ampoule case shown by Fig. 6, and the manner in whichthe cover therefor may be latched in closed position;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional and perspective view, similar to that shownby Fig. 4, but illustrating a different form of means for hinging thecompartments to the body of the bag.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 particularly, the bag illustrated comprises abase or body compartment Ill, and pivotal upper side compartments II andI2. The side compartments II and I2 are adapted to be opened fromopposite sides of the body compartment I as illustrated in broken linesin Fig. 2 and to'hinge about opposite edge lines I3 and I4 of thelatter. This opposed sidewise opening of the compartments II and I2manifestly permits ready access to such compartments as well as to thebody compartment I which is then exposed between the open sideCompartments. Handles I and I6, mounted on the compartments Il and I2adjacent their upper and meeting edges when the bag is closed, areprovided to carry the bag and a latch Il fastened on the compartment I Ibetween the handles, and adapted to cooperate with a cooperative latchpart on compartment I2 is employed for holding the compartments in theirclosed positions. This brief description indicates the generalarrangement of the bag and the manner in which it is opened and closed.

Now, as shown particularly by Figs. 2 and 5, the bottom compartment IUof the bag, comprises a rectangular frame work composed preferably offeatherweight gumwood veneer, having side walls 2l and end walls 22. Inconstructing the frame work, the side walls may be glued to the endpieces or secured thereto in any other suitable manner. The bottom ofthe compartment preferably comprises a layer of pulpwood fibre indicatedat 23, and this layer is glued or secured in any other suitable mannerwithin and to the lower edge portions of the frame work 20. From thisdescription, it will be apparent that a substantially rigid box ofrectangular construction is obtained which defines the outline of thecompartment I0.

The lower surface of the bottom layer 23 is covered by a thin piece ofleather 24, which preferably is glued to the bottom over the entiresurface thereof to provide a fully unitary construction. On the innersurface of the side and end walls 2| and 22 of the frame work 20, alayer of fiber composition 25 is applied, this layer also being glued tothe framework surfaces. The fiber composition 25 also may be applied tothe upper surface of the bottom layer 23 if this is desired and likewiseglued to the upper surface'thereof. The inner surfaces of the side andend walls of the framework 20, and the upper surface of the bottom arethen covered by a thin layer of leather such as sheep skin skiverindicated at V26, this over which it is applied. Then the entireexterior surface of the frame work 20 is covered by relatively heavyleather 21, glued thereto to provide a substantial heavy leathercovering for the bot- As shown particularly by Figs. 1 and 3, side andend strips of leather 21 cover the sides and end walls, which meet atthe corners of the compartment and are sewed together as indicated at28. Consequently, when the stitching 28 is effected a substantiallysolid leather covering for the compartment is provided. As shown best byFig. 2, the leather covering 2l overlaps the bottom wall of thecompartment to a point indicated at 30, and the overlapping leatherportion preferably is positively secured to the bottom by stitchingindicated at 3l and this stitching extends entirely through the bottomwall. A plurality of bosses 3l in the form of rivets with rounded headsfor example, may be located on the lower side of the bottom to provide asupport for the bag, and such rivets may be secured to the bottom of thecompartment in any suitable manner such as by a riveting operation.

The compartments Il and I2 are constructed similarly and it is believedthat the description of one compartment generally will be sufficient forboth compartments. Referring to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, preferably the layersof fiber composition 25 extend upwardly at both sides of the bottomcompartment as indicated at 33 and are formed into arcuate shape asshown, to define the side and arcuate parts of the compartments. Thebottom wall of each compartment as shown by Fig. 2, comprises a layer 34of fiber composition or the like, and the edge of this layer is gluedpreferably as indicated at 35 to the inner side surface of the fiberlayer 33. The end walls of the compartment as shown particularly by Fig.3,

comprise layers of gumwood veneer or the like leather may be employed tocover the lower surf face of the bottom wall 34 of the compartment. Toprovide a hinging cover for the compartment, the thin layers of leather38 and 39 may be extended beyond the free edge of the bottom layer 34 ofthe compartment, and between such layers of leather a layer of fibercomposition di) is provided to stiffen the cover. It will be noted thatthe fiber composition -il and the layers of leather 38 and 39 atopposite sides thereof are deflected in their closed position tosubstantially close the '1* compartment. In this connection it isdesired to call attention to the fact that the leather layers preferablyare glued to opposed sides of the fiber composition so as to provide aunitary construction. To provide an abutment for the cover of thecompartment, a stiffening element 132 may extend along the inner side ofthe side wall 33 adjacent its free edge, and within the leather layer38. The outer sides of the compartments and particularly the side wallsthereof, are covered by the side layer of relatively heavy leather 2lwhich extend upwardly around the side portions and such layers ofleather similarly are glued to the fiber layers which they cover. Theend walls of the compartment similarly are covered by heavy layers ofleather indicated at in Fig. 3 which are likewise glued to the gumwoodveneer 36. Stitching as shown at 28 in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 may beemployed for connecting the meeting edges of such outside leatherlayers.

lil

It will be noted in the figures and particularly Figs. 5 and 6 that thebottom walls 34 of the compartments are disposed in vertically spacedrelation with respect to the upper edges of the gumwood veneer 2|. inthe bottom compartment and that the leather skiver in the bottomcompartment is reversely folded as indicated at 43 to provide an annularspace 49 around the upper edge of the bottom compartment to preventingress of water thereinto. In this connection it may be stated that thelayer of skiver on the inner surface of the bottom compartment may beintegral with the layers of leather skiver 39 on the bottom walls of thecompartments so as to provide unitary side leather layers in the bottomand side compartments. It is apparent that the end walls of thecompartment and the side walls thereof extend around and project belowthe upper edge of the reversely folded leather portion 48 so that shouldany water gain entrance between the edges of the bottom compartment andthe upper compartments, such water would have to travel upwardly overthe folded edge 48 before it could enter into the interior of the bagproper. Adjacent the reversely folded portion 48 of the leather skiver26, and between the latter and the ber composition 25, reinforcingfabric suchas linen indicated at 50, may be employed to reinforce theconstruction at the hinging lines of the compartments.

From the above description it should be apparent that the compartmentsIl and I2 may be hinged into open and closed position substantiallyabout the lines indicated at I3 and I4 and that the fiber layers 25 andthe outside layers of leather 2'! at such. lines substantiallyconstitute the hinging connections between the compartments Il and I2and the bottom compartment IB. This arrangement provides a neat exteriorappearance for the bag wherein the hinging connection is practically notnoticeable.

For limiting opening movement of each compartment, an arcuate platehaving a slot 56, may be secured as indicated at 51 to that portion 0fone end wall of each compartment projecting below the bottom wall 34thereof, and such arcuate plate preferably is movable into a spaceprovided for this purpose between the folded edge portion 48 of theskiver 26 and the fiber layers in one end wall of the bottomcompartment. It is of course manifest that any arrangement suitable forthe purpose may be provided so long as the arcuate plates are free tomove into and out of the end walls of the bottom compartment. Prefierably, only one arcuate plate is provided for each compartment and bothplatesV on both compartments are located at the same end so that whenthe compartments are in their open position the plates will constituteobstacles only at one end of the bag. For limiting opening movement ofthe compartments, pins or the like indicated at 58 extend through theslots 55 and are fixed to the end wall of the bottom compartment andsuch pins are adapted to engage the end of the slots at the free ends ofthe arcuate plates 55 when the compartments are open. Variousarrangements may be provided to limit the opening of the compartmentsbut the arrangement described is` found particularly suitable.

It has previously been stated that the folded edge portion of the skiver26 provides a means for preventing ingress of water into the bottomco-mpartment around the meeting edges of the side compartment and thebottom compartment. In order to prevent ingress of water between themeeting edges of the side compartments, the compartment I I is shown asprovided with a reinforcing lapping strip 60 which also is covered bythe outside layer of leather 2l and this lapping strip 60 extends acrossthe top of thebag and along the opposite end walls thereof so that whenthe compartments are closed, it overlaps the meeting edges thereof. Fromthis it follows that the bag is substantially leak proof and hence thecontents thereof may be preserved in good condition.

Each of the handles I5 and I6 is pivotally connected to the compartmentwith which it is associated, by means of a metal ring which at one endis pivotally connected to the compartment by means of a leather strip t6reversely folded about a portion of the ring and stitched to the leatherlayer 2l, as indicated at 6l in Figs. 1 and 7. A Smaller reinforcingstrip 68 of leather or suitable reinforcing fabric may be looped about aportion of the ring 55 Within the folded leather B6 and likewisestitched by the stitching 51. An opposite portion of the ring 55 ispivotally associated with the handle proper in any suitable manner andthe handle itself may be of any suitable and rigid construction. Whenboth handles are associated with the bag in this manner it is apparentthat they can be brought into substantially abutting positions as shownby Fig. l, and the bag is then carried readily by means supporting bothcompartments.

The cover for the compartment ll preferably comprises two partsindicated at 'sEl and ll in Fig. 5, which may be moved separately intoopen and closed positions, whereas the cover for the compartment I2preferably constitutes a single cover for the entire compartment. Anysuitable means may be employed for lat-ching each cover in closedposition such as a hook 'l2 pivotally mounted on the cover which isadapted to engage an eye 73 secured to the reinforcing element d2 andprojecting when the cover is closed through a slot in the latter. Aleather lip 'I4 may be secured to each cover adjacent the hook i2 tofacilitate opening the cover when the hook is unlatched. The compartmentI2 with its single cover manifestly provides a long space which may beutilized for carrying various surgical instruments or other equipmentthat a physician uses, and which require a long space in the bag. It isapparent that certain surgical instruments or other instruments that thephysician uses, of a particular character, may be located in thiscompartment so that the physician always knows where such instrumentsare located.

The covers 'I0 and lI of the compartment II, however, cover separatecompartments divided by a partition 'I6 shown by Fig. 5 or in otherwords the compartment lI is divided into two smaller compartmentsindividually closed by the covers 'lil and` ll. The smaller compartmentat the left as shown by Fig. 5 may be used for various articles ofsimilar nature that the physician uses, but the other compartment shownat the right of Fig. 5 is particularly employed to receive ampoules.Hypodermic needles and the like may also be stored in this compartmentif this is found suitable, or if found more satisfactory they may bestored in the smaller compartment at the left of Fig. 5 so that theentire compartment II or the smaller compartment at the right may bedevoted to hypodermic injecting equipment.

As an ampoule carrier, a box 'I3 is fastened on the inner surface of thecover 1I, and such box has a pivoted cover 'I9 which may be hinged tothe box by an integral covering layer 79', or a hinge of suitablecharacter. The cover may be latched to the body of the box by latchingmeans 80 comprising a yieldable metal element v8| having a bead B2adapted to project into an opening in the cover i9. When the cover isclosed, it is apparent that the bead slips into the opening, whereaswhen the cover is to be opened, the bead slips out of the opening. neither case the latch will automatically operate so that it is onlynecessary to move the cover either into closed or open position.

Within the box lil a removable layer of sponge rubber 85 preferably isprovided which has longitudinally spaced recesses 8% as shown by Fig. 6adapted to receive the ampoule tubes 8l. Similarly, the cover 'i9 isprovided with a removable layer of sponge rubber or other suitableresilient and yielding material 89 also having recesses Q complementaryto the ampoule tubes. The fact that the sponge rubber layers areremovable facilitates cleaning them, and it is evident that the rubberreadily may be washed and sterilized. Togetner the resilient layers inthe box 'i8 and cover "it provide a soft but positive locating means forthe ampoule tubes, thereby preventing breakage thereof while maintainingthem inv positively located positions.

It will be apparent from Fig. 6, that the compartment I i may be openedby swinging it to the right through an arc of substantially 90 and thatthe covers for the compartment will then be in a horizontal plane withthe compartment at the right of the bottom compartment. The cover H maybe opened by swinging it tothe left through an arc of substantially 180degrees which will place the ampoule case i8 uppermost and substantiallyin a horizontal plane above the bottom compartment. Then the cover 19for the ampoule case may be lifted by swinging it to the right thusexposing the ampoule tubes in a readily accessible position.

For accommodating a thermometer resilient metal clips Q53' and 9i areprovided which, as best shown by Fig. 2, have lip portions 93 adapted toi clip the thermometer in place on one side wall of the bottomcompartment. Preferably, the clips 9@ and Si are so located that theymay in conjunction provide a support for a single thermometer or thatthey may be used separately for this purpose. The clips preferablyextend through openings in the leather skiver 26 and alongside the fibercomposition 25 to the bottom wall of the compartment and may be rivetedin place as indicated at 94 in Fig. 5.

t is desirable that various medicines be removable as a unit and forthis purpose a brack-et plate S5 shown by Fig. 5 is provided having abase portion 96 which is adapted to support a group of bottles 9'?. Thebottles are maintained in separated positions on the bracket 95 by meansof a strap QB extending through longitudinally spaced slots on the backwall of the bracket and which engage the outer surfaces of the bottles.When the bracket plate is in position the bottom wall S3 thereofpreferably seats on the bottom Wall of the bottom compartment, with theback wall thereof against a side wall of the latter. When so positionedthe bracket is adapted to be maintained in position by means of a latch99, preferably comprising a turnable eye i fastened to the side wall ofthe bottom compartment and which projects through a complementary slotin the back wall of the bracket. When the bracket is in proper position,it is apparent that the eye |00 may be turned 90 degrees and acrossl theslot to lock the bracket plate against the side wall. The advantage ofhaving a removable bracket plate is manifest because it permits thephysician to removethe entire group of bottles as a unit and place themon a table or the like where all or" the bottles will be readily visiblethereby enabling him to select the bottle or bottles desired withoutdiiiiculty.

The advantages of the bag described seem obvious without detailedexplanation other than that already given. It is evident that the bagmay be opened readily and that the side compartment can be placed insubstantially horizontal planes at opposite sides of the bottomcompartment thus permitting the physician to see at a glance practicallyall that the bag contains, it being' evident that he knows what the sidecompartments contain because ordinarily he will employ such sidecompartments only for designated purposes. It is apparent that thebottom compartment `will be readily visible as well as accessible, thatthe thermometer will readily be visible and releasable and so locatedthat it is not apt to become broken, that the bottle supporting bracketcan be readily removed, and that other articles which may be depositedin the bottom of the bag can be readily seen at a glance. Moreover, itis apparent that the physician may immediately obtain access to theampoule case and moreover that such ampoule tubes will be maintained ingood condition against breakage.

The bag provides a neat and compact construction, extremely durable,watertight in character, and very satisfactory for a physicians purposein making professional calls. The invention meets the most exactingrequirements of physicians by providing a bag which maintains variousarticles comprising the physicians equipment in separated and readilyaccessible locations, which prevents breakage Vof breakable articles,and which placespractically the entire equipment before the physicianwhen it is opened so that he can see at least in eii'ect all of thearticles therein at a glance. The arrangement of the component parts ofthe bag eliminates haphazard depositing of articles therein thatcharacterizes the ordinary bag used, and provides a construction whichwill be readily recognized by physicians as meeting a long felt need.

As an alternative manner of pivotally mounting the side compartments onthe bottom compartment ofthe bag, a hinge may be employed instead of thesolid leather outer member, as indicated at iii! and such hinge mayconstitute metal hinge elements 92 and H33 fastened between the leathercovering and bottom compartment and side compartments respectively, andthrough which a piano wire it or the like may extend. While the leathercovering outside of the bag is suitable for hinging purposes it may befound desirable to use metal hinge elements of this type.

Although certain forms of the invention have been shown and described indetail, it will be aption, and the second compartment cover beingpivoted to open in the other direction.

2. A physicians bag comprising a bottom compartment including pairs ofside and end Walls, a side compartment arranged above said bottomcompartment, means for pivotally connecting said side compartment to theupper margin of a side wall of said bottom compartment, a cover for saidside compartment, means for pivotally connecting said cover at thebottom margin thereof to the bottom of the side compartment when the bagis in closed condition, and an ampoule case fixed to the inside surface.of said cover and openable about an axis adjacent the bottom of theampoule case, whereby said ampoule case is disposed in a substantiallyerect position both when the bag is closed and when the bag, sidecompartment, and ampoule case are open,

3. A physicians bag comprising a bottom compartment including pairs ofside and end walls, a side compartment arranged above said bottomcompartment, means for pivotally connecting said side compartment to theupper margin of a side wall of said bottom compartment, a cover for saidside compartment, means for pivotally connecting said cover at thebottom margin thereof to the bottom of the side compartment when the bagis in closed condition, an ampoule case fixed to the inside surface ofsaid cover, and a cover for said ampoule case pivotally connected at thebottom thereof to the bottom of the ampoule. case and adjacent thepivotal connection between said side compartment and the cover therefor.

4. A physicians bag comprising a bottom rectangular compartment, upperside compartments hinged to opposed sides of the bottom compartmentrespectively, and in their closed positions providing a closure to thebottom compartment with their side and end walls constituting upwardcontinuations of the side and end walls of the bottom compartment, eachof said upper conipartments in its closed position having a bottom walloverlying a part of the bottom compartment and a cover pivotallyconnected to the inner edge of said bottom wall so that the pivotalcovers for both side compartments extend upwardly between the latter, arelatively small article case fastened on the inner side of one of saidpivotal covers and movable into and out of the adjacent side compartmentupon hinging movement of the cover, and a cover hinged to the case andnormally closing that side of the latter opposite the cover to which thecase is fastened.

5. A physicians bag comprising a bottom rectangular compartment, upperside compartments hinged to opposed sides of the bottom compartmentrespectively, and in their closed positions providing a closure to thebottom compartment with their side and end walls constituting upwardcontinuations of the side and end walls of the bottom compartment, eachof said upper compartments in its closed position having a bottom walloverlying a part of the bottom compartment and a cover pivotallyconnected to the inner edge of said bottom wall so that the pivotalcovers for both side compartments extend upwardly between the latter, arelatively small article case fastened on the inner side of one of saidpivotal covers and movable into and out of the adjacent side compartmentupon hinging movement of the cover, a cover hinged to the case andnormally closing that side of the latter opposite the cover to which thecase is fastened, and means in the case for holding articles againstmovement during pivotal movement of the side compartment or the covertherefor.

JOHN H. GORDON.

